Borough council picks mayor to fill vacancy

Fred Courtright, the only Democrat who served on Mount Pocono Borough Council, has been appointed mayor by his GOP colleagues, filling the vacancy created by Republican Rich Dorkoski's resignation.

DAVID PIERCE

Fred Courtright, the only Democrat who served on Mount Pocono Borough Council, has been appointed mayor by his GOP colleagues, filling the vacancy created by Republican Rich Dorkoski's resignation.

Courtright, who was running for mayor against Dorkoski in November, resigned his council seat to become mayor for the remainder of this year.

Dorkoski withdrew his name from the November ballot. The Republican Party has filed nominating papers for Mike Ionescue to appear on the mayoral ballot this November as the party's new competition for Courtright.

The council's appointment of Courtright to the mayoral opening was unanimous. The last time a Democrat served as mayor was 1994.

"On the local level, party doesn't matter so much," said Courtright, adding that most residents want low taxes and abundant public services. "They all want the same thing."

Courtright said he had a close working relationship with Dorkoski.

"We would sit down together twice a month to hash things out," Courtright said. "So it wasn't like we were competitors.

"I want people to vote for me, not against someone," Courtright added.

Courtright operates a business called The Permissions Company, which seeks permission to use copyrighted material on behalf of clients that include publishers, authors, agents, literary executors and book packagers. He has finalized agreements for using material in classrooms to Broadway plays.

"I don't know of anybody who does what I do," Courtright said.

The New Jersey native's introduction to borough affairs was his appointment eight years ago to the Mount Pocono Planning Commission, which reviews residential and commercial construction plans and makes recommendations. He ran for mayor four years ago, but lost to Dan McDavitt.

He was appointed to a council vacancy, before being elected to a council term two years ago.

Courtright, 48, and his wife, Amanda Sumner, have four children, ages 2 to 16.